8A61.21

ICD-11 MMS 2026-01

Childhood absence epilepsy

Description

Epilepsy with onset in an otherwise normal child of 2 to 12 years of age, often with multiple daily brief staring episodes lasting an average of 10 seconds. Absence seizures are usually provoked by hyperventilation. The electroencephalogram shows ictal and interictal diffuse 2.5-3 cycles per second spike and wave discharges. The genetic pattern is probably polygenetic.

Coding note from above levels

Use additional code, if desired, to identify the type of seizure.

Index terms

  • Childhood absence epilepsy
  • CAE - [childhood absence epilepsy]
  • Petit mal epilepsy
Show allHide
  • Pycnolepsy
  • Pyknolepsy

Exclusions from above levels

  • MG45 – Syncope
  • 05 – Endocrine, nutritional or metabolic diseases
  • 18 – Complications of pregnancy, childbirth and the puerperium
Show allHide
  • 19 – Certain conditions originating in the perinatal period
  • 22 – Injury, poisoning or certain other consequences of external causes

Sibling codes

  • 8A61.20 – Benign childhood epilepsy with centro-temporal spikes
  • 8A61.22 – Epilepsy with myoclonic-astatic seizures
  • 8A61.23 – Myoclonic absences or absences with myoclonias
  • 8A61.2Y – Other specified genetic epileptic syndromes with childhood onset
  • 8A61.2Z – Genetic epileptic syndromes with childhood onset, unspecified

Foundation entity

Childhood absence epilepsy – http://id.who.int/icd/entity/726403046

Part of: 8A61.2: Genetic epileptic syndromes with childhood onset › 8A61: Genetic or presumed genetic syndromes primarily expressed as epilepsy › 08: Diseases of the nervous system